• Ensure vehicles are roadworthy
• Maintain tractors and machinery
• Take care even under pressure
Farmers and harvest workers are being urged to take extra care on rural roads this summer – and help reduce the number of harvest accidents.
Collisions between agricultural vehicles and other road users are 52% more likely between the start of May and the end of September, according to the latest accident statistics published by NFU Mutual.
As farmers prepare to begin the harvest season and agricultural traffic increases, the rural insurer has teamed up with local police – urging all rural road users to take extra care over the coming months.
Coinciding with the hotter weather when people look to explore the countryside, harvest season brings a greater need for all motorists to respect their fellow road users – and the usual hazards on country roads, says NFU Mutual.
Heavy traffic
First cut silage has already seen an increase in road traffic. The next few months will see even higher volumes – including inexperienced harvest workers driving tractors pulling heavy grain trailers or wide agricultural machinery.
On average, there were 423 of accidents per month between May and September 2022 – the peak time for silaging, hay making and harvesting cereal crops – compared to 249 per month between October and April.
As well as an increase in agricultural traffic, the summer months also coincide with the school holidays and a greater amount of leisure traffic, with road users not necessarily used to rural roads, which can further increase the risk of accidents.
The increase in agricultural vehicles in the road coincides with the sunnier weather and school holidays to greatly increase the volume of traffic on rural roads during this time, said NFU Mutual road sfety specialist Jade Devlin.
Accident advice
Rural motorists should be aware of tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery, said Ms Devlin. “We’re beginning to see more tractors, trailers and large agricultural machinery such as combine harvesters on our rural roads.
“Unfortunately, our claims data shows that accidents involving these agricultural vehicles and third parties are over 50% more likely in the harvesting season, so we’re sharing some advice on how everyone can stay safe on rural roads this spring and summer.
“Agricultural vehicles are generally large, wide and slow, which can tempt road users to overtake, but it’s vital to remain patient and only overtake when it’s safe – when you can see a clear road ahead, there are no field openings, and you have space to pass.”
Farmers and contractors should not drive too quickly, said Ms Devlin. But they should pull over where safe to do so to allow built-up traffic to pass – unless they were going a very short distance to the next field or farmyard.
“Motorists and cyclists should be patient, give agricultural vehicles room to turn and not drive too closely to them, which can be dangerous and can obstruct your view before overtaking,” she said.
Mutual respect
“It’s important to remember that rural roads are vital arteries for our agricultural industry, allowing farmers to bring in the harvest which helps feed the population, as well as valued spaces which allow us to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
“Mutual respect from those who use rural roads for work and for pleasure will ultimately help keep our motorists, cyclists, horse riders and walkers safe this harvest season.”
Reiterating the importance of staying safe on rural roads this summer, police inspector Jem Mountford, from Warwickshire Police Roads Policing Unit, said: “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.
“With more people using country roads during the summer months, it is important we are all patient and show respect to other road users. If everyone does this, then we can reduce the number of collisions and injuries on these roads.”
Harvest advice for rural road users
For farmers
• Ensure all equipment is road worthy and pay particular care to things like trailers which may not have been used for months.
• Check brakes and indicators and make sure you have reflectors and a beacon for your vehicle. Use the Tilly Checklist to inspect your trailer.
• Be aware of vulnerable road users or hidden junctions, making contractors aware of these junctions and commonly-used walking, cycling and riding routes.
• Familiarise yourself and your contractors with the speed limits for your vehicles.
• If your agricultural vehicles leave mud in the road, remember to clean it up.
• When turning, indicate in plenty of time and check more than once for road users on your inside.
• Be respectful to fellow road users, but only allow them to pass when it is safe to pull over.
All road users
• Give plenty of space when overtaking. Vulnerable road users, such as walkers, runners, horse riders and cyclists, should be given as much room as motorists where possible.
• Always check for other road users, particularly at the entrance of fields and junctions.
• Be patient with fellow road users and only overtake when it is safe for all road users.
• Consider where you park to avoid blocking field entrances or obstructing the road for wide agricultural machinery, such as combine harvesters, as they will often need to drive across two lanes.
• Be aware of mud on the road. Rural roads are essential to our farming industry and therefore some mud will be dragged from fields to the road.
• Familiarise yourself with the Highway Code.
• Avoid unnecessary distractions like looking at your phone or listening to music through headphones, allowing you to be aware of your surroundings.
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists
• Speed limits are not targets. Always drive appropriately and remember rural roads are likely to have hazards such as tighter carriageways, blind corners, and animals in the road.
• Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders should consider wearing appropriate clothing which enables them to be seen.
• Respect that rural roads are vital to our farming industry and expect to encounter tractors, farm machinery or animals in the road.
• Signal correctly and in plenty of time, whether you are a motorist, cyclist or horse rider.
